Philly.com

I have offensive tackle as the top need for a team that has to make sure they don't take the athleticism of their starting quarterback for granted. In Carimi they get a guy who loves to run block and will sustain those blocks. But he can also take on great pass-rushers, and has shown enough that it figures he could fill in at either tackle position early, potentially starting on the right side with the goal to become a starting left tackle.

I struggled with this pick more than any other in the first round, having a hard time finding a player who fits Philadelphia's needs and was worthy of the pick. In the end, guard and tackle are priorities and Sherrod has the versatility to contribute at both positions. He's not explosive or dominant and is a bit of a reach here, but Sherrod consistently gets into position and rarely makes mistakes, and recent off-field issues for current OT Jason Peters could increase the urgency to address the offensive line. The Eagles could also consider the top available cornerbacks here, but all come with questions.

Off-field issues for Peters? C'mon. I can say with confidence that Peters' little run-in with the police will have zero effect on who the Eagles take in the first round.

Smith, who visited the Eagles last week, would be a perfect fit for the way the coaches use their cornerbacks in the secondary — a lot of man coverage. And they would like to be more physical at that position. Pouncey would also make a lot of sense since they need competition at center and have an opening at right guard.

The Eagles could use help on both of their lines, and, with Victor Abiamiri returning from injured reserve, are one of the few teams with enough talent to consider drafting Bowers and shelving him for a year, if necessary. Teams have expressed serious concerns after Bowers clearly appeared hobbled at his pro day, and his Combine reevaluation could go a long way toward determining his draft status.

When the Eagles benched starting RT Winston Justice in the playoff loss to the Packers, it spoke volumes about the need for an immediate upgrade. They have missed the steady presence of Jon Runyan since his retirement, and Carimi carries himself with the same type of confidence. Carimi gets the task of protecting Mchael Vick's blind side.

The Eagles' playoff loss to the Packers revealed a secondary that lacks the depth or talent to hold up against sophisticated aerial attacks. Smith comes with baggage, but his cover skills are undeniable and he should thrive playing opposite Asante Samuel in an aggressive scheme.